After a mere eight day “indefinite hiatus,” Phil Robertson has been reinstated by A&E and will appear on all future episodes of “Duck Dynasty.” The 67-year old patriarch of the Duck Dynasty clan had made ugly and vicious comments about LGBT and Black people, causing the cable television network to respond by suspending him. Today, his suspension was revoked.
“The family is excited to keep making a quality tv show for our dedicated fans, who have showed us wonderful support,” the Duck Dynasty clan reportedly told Fox News’ Todd Starnes. “We will continue to represent our faith and values in the most positive way through Duck Dynasty and our many projects that we are currently working on. The outpouring of support and prayer has encouraged and emboldened us greatly.”
The Robertsons’ “faith and values” included father Phil comparing homosexuality to bestiality, adultery, prostitution, alcoholism, lying, stealing — and terrorism. He also, unsurprisingly, said gay people are not going to heaven.
Indeed the entire right wing of America — sans Washington Post conservative columnist Kathleen Parker — offered support to the Louisiana quack clan, causing national attention to the hate speech of a popular redneck multi-millionaire.
Meanwhile, Louisiana governor Bobby Jindal used the controversy to rekindle his right wing bona fides.
“I am glad to hear that the folks at A&E came to their senses and recognized that tolerance of religious views is more important than political correctness,†the Republican governor said. “Today is a good day for the freedoms of speech and religious liberty.â€
“The left is going to have to get accustomed to the fact that it does not have a monopoly on free speech and is not the only group who is permitted to voice its opinion in the public square,” Jindal added. “The left may control Hollywood, but they don’t control the hearts and minds of a majority of Americans.” Starnes add this via Twitter:
The Duck Dynasty debacle proves that when the American people stand up — the bullies stand down.
— toddstarnes (@toddstarnes) December 28, 2013
Hat-tip: Joe.My.God.
Image via Duck Dynasty on Facebook